Oakbrook Starter Farm – latest

Stroud Community Agriculture (SCA) is a community led farm. With rented land at Brookthorpe and Hawkwood college, it provides weekly veg boxes for over 200 members in the local Stroud area. Having been successfully running for over 12 years, members of Stroud Community Agriculture decided last year to launch a new project: a starter farm, where entrant growers could learn to run their own agricultural business within a supportive environment.

After funding was secured to start this project the Biodynamic Land Trust was able to offer a three acre site at Oakbrook Farm for SCA to rent. Since the spring, the first starter farmers, Clare Whitney and Sylvie Planel, have been busy cultivating the land and growing vegetables.

Sylvie explains: “Working in collaboration with SCA has given me the support I needed to run my own business. We have a guaranteed market for our produce and, if we have a problem or need advice, we can speak to the farmers at SCA. Without this help, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to become a vegetable grower.”

The produce from the starter farm goes directly to SCA to complement the veg shares. With a successful season of growing at the starter farm, SCA is now keen that we let you know they are looking for new members!